New research suggesting that chronic fatigue syndrome is more common in teenagers than previously thought is bound to move the condition up the NHS agenda — and not before time. CFS isn’t always taken as seriously as it should be, resulting in mismanagement that can perpetuate the problem. This

Tony’s admission will come as no surprise to racecourse doctors who have long seen their primary role as protecting jockeys from themselves. Jockeys are a tough lot and their stoicism is reinforced by being self-employed. Concussion, however minor, requires that they be stood down immediately and

The death of a healthy young volunteer in France this week has highlighted the risks of being a human guinea pig, but it shouldn’t put the rest of us off. Being part of a trial can be hugely beneficial — and not just for those who follow you. The French tragedy, which has resulted in one death and

At first glance David Bowie and my father had little in common. One a rock star with a hedonistic past, the other a timber merchant and an icon of virtue who, when he wasn’t playing sport, was watching it. But cancer got them both, and at the same age. Too early. Other than his love of tobacco I

Sugar is an obvious target in any campaign to tackle obesity. Its contribution, however, to our expanding waistlines needs to be put in perspective and any new strategy would be wise not to focus too much on only one component of our diet and lifestyle. The cause of obesity has many factors.

The war on sugar has gone hi-tech this week following the launch of an app that tells shoppers how much is hidden in foods and drinks. The Sugar Smart app, produced by Public Health England (PHE), scans barcodes. It is aimed at parents to help them reduce children’s intake. The average British

It has been a tough few days for ibuprofen and paracetamol. An Australian court has ordered the manufacturer of Nurofen to withdraw a number of products because of misleading claims about efficacy. And as reported in yesterday’s Times, researchers in New Zealand have just published a study

Are you part of the NHS digital revolution? Can you book appointments to see your GP online? Or order repeat prescriptions through your practice website and access your notes? If not, why not? Because your surgery almost certainly now offers the facility. In 2012 I promised to eat my hat if the

A new survey out this week suggests that middle-aged empty-nesters are the new face of problem drinking in the UK. The poll of 500 women over 45 found that a quarter have hit the bottle harder since their children left home and now drink more than their offspring. I normally delete these sorts of

It has been a record year for hips according to the latest report from the National Joint Registry. The number of people having replacements in the UK is at an all time high and more of them are of working age — arthritis can afflict the young as well as the old — but what caught my eye was the